Budget computers have improved beyond recognition in recent years and with twenty-two functions, ETC’s 9-0 puts many premium brands to shame with its slim-line casing, superb build quality and crystal clear display. The inclusion of a second fitting kit offers even more smiles per mile - great for swapping between race and training mounts.

Available in a choice of three colours (red, white and black) the head unit enjoys vastly superior build quality to most thanks to a screwed down back-plate and protective internal membrane offering excellent weatherproofing-I even left our test model overnight in a bucket of water with no obvious ill-effect. Twenty-two functions is gilding the lily just a touch given they count sleep and auto start stop, but there’s current, average and maximum speeds, odometer, trip distance, speed comparator (a pacer arrow by another name), clock, backlight and unusual functions such as fat/calories burned and thermometer - it pretty much does everything bar make the tea. However, the planned maintenance function is little more than gimmick and given there’s no inputting of rider statistics, fat and calories used should be taken as guide rather than gospel.

The fitting kit is something of a mixed bag. True, wiring seems more substantial than most and is sufficiently long to allow mounting on tri-bars/extensions but while cable ties allow truly universal fitting, some care is needed to preserve a bike's clean lines. The non-slip rubberised spoke magnets are surprisingly good but experimentation suggests the unit reads equally well from traditional types and I’d be inclined to relegate them to the spares drawer. Aboard the bars, the huge display means it’s a doddle to read and placing the buttons at the base rather than atop preserves the aesthetic purity and are no harder to operate than those positioned on the face.

In the main a great deal better than most, although some of the fitting kit felt a little cheap.

Rate the product for performance:

8/10

Lovely to use thanks to clear display and good build quality.

Rate the product for durability:

8/10

Wiring seems more substantial than a very popular brand but needs careful routing to avoid snagging. Very well sealed from the elements- the time honoured smear of petroleum on the battery contacts seemed overkill.

Rate the product for weight, if applicable:

8/10

12g

Rate the product for comfort, if applicable:

8/10

Rate the product for value:

9/10

Tell us how the product performed overall when used for its designed purpose

There's little to to complain about thanks to an extremely clear display providing at a glance ride data while the wired connection ensures consumate reliability. Positioning the buttons at the base of the unit earns style points without compromising function-even wearing full-finger gloves it's easy to toggle between modes.

Shaun Audane is a freelance writer/product tester with over twenty-eight years riding experience, the last twelve (120,000 miles) spent putting bikes and kit through their paces for a variety of publications. Previous generations of his family worked at manufacturing's sharp end, thus Shaun can weld, has a sound understanding of frame building practice and a preference for steel or titanium framesets.
Citing Richard Ballantine and an Au pair as his earliest cycling influences, he is presently writing a cycling book with particular focus upon women, families and disabled audiences (Having been a registered care manager and coached children at Herne Hill Velodrome in earlier careers)

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